One of the biggest conversations surrounding all of Shakespeare’s plays deals with Shakespeare’s development of his female characters. In Othello, he has three seemingly different female characters. Your group will look closely at how these women treat each other and what these women have in common with each other.
Draw specific lines that best demonstrate your points and analyze what those lines really reveal about the norm of that time period.
If Shakespeare’s ‘art’ truly reflects life during the 16th century, how were women revered during this time period? Did class matter? Look at power, voice, and choice and draw a conclusion about the cultural norms of the Renaissance. Shakespeare’s Women
Background History
Shakespeare does accurately portray his women. During the Renaissance only women in the nobility were educated and even they were not permitted to go to universities. Women were valued for their appearance and submissive traits "such as chastity, modesty, humility, constancy, temperance, piety, patience, and kindness" (Dunn 17). Although Queen Elizabeth was the exception and was know for her strong traits. The legal status of men and women in Elizabethan society also had distinct features. While men held almost absolute authority, married women had virtually no rights as citizens".
"Additionally women who chose to become wives, which was the majority of the female population, agreed to submit themselves to total control by their husbands. They move from living under the control of their fathers to living under the control of their husbands." Simply put women were always under control of men during the and were not able to become equals to men. Shakespear most likely developed his women to a higher level than most women of the time, giving them important parts and showing their control over their husbands in secret.
Misogyny and Witches
During Shakespear's life the witch trials in England and the rest of Europe were going strong with most people believing in them. Various myths existed like that they invited satan to eat with them, they could walk on water or curse whomever they wished. Many historians see the witch hunts as an anti-feminist attack. On average, above 80% of the witches were women. Additionally 75% of those women were living independently. This sugests that the witch hunts were simply men reacting to womens attempts to gain equal power.
Fashion of the 16th Century The outfits of the late 16 century were fairly simple at least for lower and middle class women. Still even lower class women had a kirtle and some kind of dress over it and sleeves were held by pins "even the poorest women would be expected to have a little "pin money" for those so-necessary pins to keep her clothes together" The idea that women of the time were concerned about their clothing over food in some cases clearly portrays their dependence on appearance. Fashion was that important.
Upper class fashion was far more diverse and quickly changing. Queen Elizabeth often wore even more elaborate and painful dresses than other upper class women in order to create a image for herself. She knew that appearance was important and she used it to benefit her leadership without submitting to common female traits of the time period.
What European women wore in the 16th century was mostly based upon social class, all the way from their undergarments to their overcoats. A lower class, "working woman's" chemise, or underwear, was made out of a square like tunic that was ungathered while an upper class woman's was nicely embroidered and made out of expensive linen. On top of her chemise a poorer woman would wear a kirtle, a sleevless dress, which was then covered by an overdress and a skirt. Women that worked in manual labor wore their skirts to an area around their calf. Upper class women wore elegant gowns that were layered underneath with multiple petticoats and then a corset. To give women a flat chested look, these corsets were very tight and "boned". Many of these more expensive dresses laced up the back. Wealthier women additionally wore stiff collars that looked like fans around their neck. All women wore hats, caps, and cloths on their heads and wore stockings with garters.
source http://www.lepg.org/clothing.htm
Secret power of women Much like how Iago thought women had a huge amount of control over their spouses. Women governed their own homes and "although the lawe may seeme somewhat rigorous toward the wives, yet for the most part they can handle their husbandes so well and so doulcely, and specially when their husbands be sicke: that where the lawe giveth them nothing, their husbandes at their death of their good will give them all. And fewe there be that be not made at the death of their husbandes either sole or chiefe executrixes of his last wil and testament, and have for the most part the government of the children and their portions"
In England during the sixteenth century women were not equal to men, at least on the surface, laws and witchhunts severely limited any women from gaining strong social standing. Still after the husband died the wife had so much control over her husband that she received a third of his wealth, the other thirds going to children and his burial. Gaining a third of his wealth was essentially the same as giving her equal power to her late husband and also showed how much power she had when even his children received the same as her. The wealth that went to the children was divided and therefore far less proving the amount of control and influence wives had.
Many people who read Shakespeare tend to notice that his female characters are usually much less developed than the males in his plays. It is even speculated that Shakespeare himself might have been a misogynist, which is hatred or contempt for women. Evidence to support such a theory can be found in many of his plays including Othello. In Othello his three female characters (Desdemona, Amelia, and Bianca) are much less developed than his male characters (Othello, Iago, Cassio, and Rodreigo). The women are exactly the way they are portrayed, very static with almost no change in character from the beginning of the play to the end, like most female characters of Shakespeare’s. This static concept in Shakespeare’s plays is what leads many to believe that he might not have cared much for woman to spend the time to develop their characters the way he did his male characters, once more suggesting that men were superior to women. Some women may be put off by Shakespeare’s supposed misogynic ways but really it was just a different time period before woman empowerment and women movements. Even if Shakespeare was a misogynist there’s no reason for women to be offended by his under-developed female leads because in most of his plays the women play such a vital part to the plot, such as in Othello the woman are the downfall of the men even if they aren’t as dynamic.
Comparisons Between the Women of Othello
An Overall Ranking of the Women of Othello
1. Desdemona – She is a very strong woman who is part of the upper class. Desdemona sticks up for what she believes in and has earned the respect of the other characters in the play. Emilia is bossed around by Desdemona almost as if she is a servant, even though they are in the same class.
2. Emilia – Emilia is part of the upper class, but not treated like it. Not only is she quiet and unassuming, but nobody, including her own husband Iago, lets her voice her opinion about subjects. Even when talked badly about, she will not defend herself. Additionally, Emilia acts almost as a maid for Desdemona even though they are supposed to be “friends”. Any chance Emilia has to feel important or better than someone else, she will take. Overall though, Emilia does love Desdemona.
3. Bianca – Bianca is a “woman of the night” and a member of lower class. Everyone in the play, even her lover Cassio, looks down on her with disdain and disgust when she appears.
Explanations of interactions that show these characteristics
Pages 24-25 Desdemona is portrayed on these two pages as a very strong woman. Iago continuously makes misogynistic comments about women while Desdemona sticks up for all women, Emilia included. Iago states that "You rise to play, and go to bed to work" saying that women do nothing during the daytimes and their job at night is to have sex with men. Iago additionally on page 25, paragraph 4 says that women should basically be able to feel emotions and have traits, but not act upon them. He also assigns categories for women on these two pages.
As Iago says all of these terrible things about women, Desdemona contradicts every one of them, calling him a slanderer, saying he has miserable praise of women, and that he is ignorant. She even says to Emilia, even though he may be your husband, "do not learn of him". Emilia is criticized by Iago and he will not "write her praise" on these pages. Emilia will not stand up for herself, so Desdemona has to.
Desdemona is a much stronger woman than that of Emilia. Desdemona has made many of her own decisions, including running off with Othello. Maybe some of the strong mindedness of Othello has rubbed off on Desdemona. Emilia, on the other hand, is quiet and unassuming. She does not talk unless spoken to and took criticism all too easily. She is in the background to Iago. Overall, Desdemona and Emilia share a feeling of contempt for Iago and his views, but are totally opposite people.
Pages 49-50 On this page Emilia shows how she wishes for Iago to accept and love her.
drops her handkerchief Emilia goes and steals it to give to Iago. Emilia does so because Iago has been begging for her to steal it for him to further his plans of breaking up Othello and Desdemona. The main goal of Emilia is just to gain some recognition from someone, this time being Iago, and she wants “nothing but to please his fancy.” This interaction shows Emilia’s hunger to feel important, even if it comes from stealing from her best friend. Iago later snatches the handkerchief from Emilia, without even a thank you, furthering the notion that Emilia gets no respect.
Pages 59-60, 64 On the first two pages is an interaction between Bianca and Cassio. Cassio shows that he loves her by giving her the newly found handkerchief he has. Additionally, Cassio gives her this to keep her happy so he still has an “outlet.” When alone together, the two act like a couple, but when Cassio is with Bianca in the company of others he looks down upon her. When Bianca finds Cassio in the company of Iago and Othello on page 64, he exclaims “What do you mean by this haunting of me?” Cassio is upset that she is appearing with him in public among his friends so he makes it seem Bianca is following him and plays her off as a nothing. When Bianca leaves, infuriated at Cassio, he tries to act as if it does not matter, until Iago tells him to run after her and make things better.
Pages 70-71 On these pages it shows the true relationship between Emilia and Desdemona. At one point Desdemona says to Emilia “do not talk to me” and then later says “lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember: and call my husband hither.” Desdemona tells Emilia to be quiet, to do her laundry, and make her bed for later that night. This is a prime example that Emilia is subservient to Desdemona and will do anything to please her.
Page 81 After Cassio is injured Bianca is there for him as he is complaining of his wound. Emilia soon arrives to see what is happening and finds out that Cassio was coming from Bianca’s house when he was injured. When Emilia discovers where Cassio has come from she yells at Bianca, “Fie, fie upon thee strumpet!” This is a chance for Emilia to appear better than someone else, so she takes full advantage of criticizing Bianca, calling her a whore.
Pages 86-87 When Emilia finds out that Iago orchestrated the murder of Desdemona she is devastated. She even goes as far as to say, “I’ll kill myself for grief” showing how much she cared for Desdemona. Breaking her mold, Emilia even stands up to Iago about Desdemona’s murder saying he “killed the sweetest innocent that e’er lift up eye.” Due to the grief she is feeling, Emilia’s anger at Iago finally comes out.
Are there any more examples people can think of from the book???
Shakespeare and his Women
One of the biggest conversations surrounding all of Shakespeare’s plays deals with Shakespeare’s development of his female characters. In Othello, he has three seemingly different female characters. Your group will look closely at how these women treat each other and what these women have in common with each other.
Draw specific lines that best demonstrate your points and analyze what those lines really reveal about the norm of that time period.
If Shakespeare’s ‘art’ truly reflects life during the 16th century, how were women revered during this time period? Did class matter? Look at power, voice, and choice and draw a conclusion about the cultural norms of the Renaissance.
Shakespeare’s Women
Background History
Shakespeare does accurately portray his women. During the Renaissance only women in the nobility were educated and even they were not permitted to go to universities. Women were valued for their appearance and submissive traits "such as chastity, modesty, humility, constancy, temperance, piety, patience, and kindness" (Dunn 17). Although Queen Elizabeth was the exception and was know for her strong traits. The legal status of men and women in Elizabethan society also had distinct features. While men held almost absolute authority, married women had virtually no rights as citizens".
"Additionally women who chose to become wives, which was the majority of the female population, agreed to submit themselves to total control by their husbands. They move from living under the control of their fathers to living under the control of their husbands." Simply put women were always under control of men during the and were not able to become equals to men. Shakespear most likely developed his women to a higher level than most women of the time, giving them important parts and showing their control over their husbands in secret.
Misogyny and Witches
During Shakespear's life the witch trials in England and the rest of Europe were going strong with most people believing in them. Various myths existed like that they invited satan to eat with them, they could walk on water or curse whomever they wished. Many historians see the witch hunts as an anti-feminist attack. On average, above 80% of the witches were women. Additionally 75% of those women were living independently. This sugests that the witch hunts were simply men reacting to womens attempts to gain equal power.
Fashion of the 16th Century
The outfits of the late 16 century were fairly simple at least for lower and middle class women. Still even lower class women had a kirtle and some kind of dress over it and sleeves were held by pins "even the poorest women would be expected to have a little "pin money" for those so-necessary pins to keep her clothes together" The idea that women of the time were concerned about their clothing over food in some cases clearly portrays their dependence on appearance. Fashion was that important.
Upper class fashion was far more diverse and quickly changing. Queen Elizabeth often wore even more elaborate and painful dresses than other upper class women in order to create a image for herself. She knew that appearance was important and she used it to benefit her leadership without submitting to common female traits of the time period.
What European women wore in the 16th century was mostly based upon social class, all the way from their undergarments to their overcoats. A lower class, "working woman's" chemise, or underwear, was made out of a square like tunic that was ungathered while an upper class woman's was nicely embroidered and made out of expensive linen. On top of her chemise a poorer woman would wear a kirtle, a sleevless dress, which was then covered by an overdress and a skirt. Women that worked in manual labor wore their skirts to an area around their calf. Upper class women wore elegant gowns that were layered underneath with multiple petticoats and then a corset. To give women a flat chested look, these corsets were very tight and "boned". Many of these more expensive dresses laced up the back. Wealthier women additionally wore stiff collars that looked like fans around their neck. All women wore hats, caps, and cloths on their heads and wore stockings with garters.
source http://www.lepg.org/clothing.htm
Secret power of women
Much like how Iago thought women had a huge amount of control over their spouses. Women governed their own homes and "although the lawe may seeme somewhat rigorous toward the wives, yet for the most part they can handle their husbandes so well and so doulcely, and specially when their husbands be sicke: that where the lawe giveth them nothing, their husbandes at their death of their good will give them all. And fewe there be that be not made at the death of their husbandes either sole or chiefe executrixes of his last wil and testament, and have for the most part the government of the children and their portions"
In England during the sixteenth century women were not equal to men, at least on the surface, laws and witchhunts severely limited any women from gaining strong social standing. Still after the husband died the wife had so much control over her husband that she received a third of his wealth, the other thirds going to children and his burial. Gaining a third of his wealth was essentially the same as giving her equal power to her late husband and also showed how much power she had when even his children received the same as her. The wealth that went to the children was divided and therefore far less proving the amount of control and influence wives had.
Thomas Smith, "gendede republica anglorum" (pg126-27) http://www.constitution.org/eng/repang.htm
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3208514
http://www.witchtrials.co.uk/dumycz.pdf
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/witchtrial/eis.html
http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/eng/lfletcher/AYLI/azuber.htm
Is Shakespeare Misogynistic?
Many people who read Shakespeare tend to notice that his female characters are usually much less developed than the males in his plays. It is even speculated that Shakespeare himself might have been a misogynist, which is hatred or contempt for women. Evidence to support such a theory can be found in many of his plays including Othello. In Othello his three female characters (Desdemona, Amelia, and Bianca) are much less developed than his male characters (Othello, Iago, Cassio, and Rodreigo). The women are exactly the way they are portrayed, very static with almost no change in character from the beginning of the play to the end, like most female characters of Shakespeare’s. This static concept in Shakespeare’s plays is what leads many to believe that he might not have cared much for woman to spend the time to develop their characters the way he did his male characters, once more suggesting that men were superior to women. Some women may be put off by Shakespeare’s supposed misogynic ways but really it was just a different time period before woman empowerment and women movements. Even if Shakespeare was a misogynist there’s no reason for women to be offended by his under-developed female leads because in most of his plays the women play such a vital part to the plot, such as in Othello the woman are the downfall of the men even if they aren’t as dynamic.
Comparisons Between the Women of Othello
An Overall Ranking of the Women of Othello
1. Desdemona – She is a very strong woman who is part of the upper class. Desdemona sticks up for what she believes in and has earned the respect of the other characters in the play. Emilia is bossed around by Desdemona almost as if she is a servant, even though they are in the same class.
2. Emilia – Emilia is part of the upper class, but not treated like it. Not only is she quiet and unassuming, but nobody, including her own husband Iago, lets her voice her opinion about subjects. Even when talked badly about, she will not defend herself. Additionally, Emilia acts almost as a maid for Desdemona even though they are supposed to be “friends”. Any chance Emilia has to feel important or better than someone else, she will take. Overall though, Emilia does love Desdemona.
3. Bianca – Bianca is a “woman of the night” and a member of lower class. Everyone in the play, even her lover Cassio, looks down on her with disdain and disgust when she appears.
Explanations of interactions that show these characteristics
Pages 24-25
Desdemona is portrayed on these two pages as a very strong woman. Iago continuously makes misogynistic comments about women while Desdemona sticks up for all women, Emilia included. Iago states that "You rise to play, and go to bed to work" saying that women do nothing during the daytimes and their job at night is to have sex with men. Iago additionally on page 25, paragraph 4 says that women should basically be able to feel emotions and have traits, but not act upon them. He also assigns categories for women on these two pages.
As Iago says all of these terrible things about women, Desdemona contradicts every one of them, calling him a slanderer, saying he has miserable praise of women, and that he is ignorant. She even says to Emilia, even though he may be your husband, "do not learn of him". Emilia is criticized by Iago and he will not "write her praise" on these pages. Emilia will not stand up for herself, so Desdemona has to.
Desdemona is a much stronger woman than that of Emilia. Desdemona has made many of her own decisions, including running off with Othello. Maybe some of the strong mindedness of Othello has rubbed off on Desdemona. Emilia, on the other hand, is quiet and unassuming. She does not talk unless spoken to and took criticism all too easily. She is in the background to Iago. Overall, Desdemona and Emilia share a feeling of contempt for Iago and his views, but are totally opposite people.
Pages 49-50
On this page Emilia shows how she wishes for Iago to accept and love her.
drops her handkerchief Emilia goes and steals it to give to Iago. Emilia does so because Iago has been begging for her to steal it for him to further his plans of breaking up Othello and Desdemona. The main goal of Emilia is just to gain some recognition from someone, this time being Iago, and she wants “nothing but to please his fancy.” This interaction shows Emilia’s hunger to feel important, even if it comes from stealing from her best friend. Iago later snatches the handkerchief from Emilia, without even a thank you, furthering the notion that Emilia gets no respect.
Pages 59-60, 64
On the first two pages is an interaction between Bianca and Cassio. Cassio shows that he loves her by giving her the newly found handkerchief he has. Additionally, Cassio gives her this to keep her happy so he still has an “outlet.” When alone together, the two act like a couple, but when Cassio is with Bianca in the company of others he looks down upon her. When Bianca finds Cassio in the company of Iago and Othello on page 64, he exclaims “What do you mean by this haunting of me?” Cassio is upset that she is appearing with him in public among his friends so he makes it seem Bianca is following him and plays her off as a nothing. When Bianca leaves, infuriated at Cassio, he tries to act as if it does not matter, until Iago tells him to run after her and make things better.
Pages 70-71
On these pages it shows the true relationship between Emilia and Desdemona. At one point Desdemona says to Emilia “do not talk to me” and then later says “lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember: and call my husband hither.” Desdemona tells Emilia to be quiet, to do her laundry, and make her bed for later that night. This is a prime example that Emilia is subservient to Desdemona and will do anything to please her.
Page 81
After Cassio is injured Bianca is there for him as he is complaining of his wound. Emilia soon arrives to see what is happening and finds out that Cassio was coming from Bianca’s house when he was injured. When Emilia discovers where Cassio has come from she yells at Bianca, “Fie, fie upon thee strumpet!” This is a chance for Emilia to appear better than someone else, so she takes full advantage of criticizing Bianca, calling her a whore.
Pages 86-87
When Emilia finds out that Iago orchestrated the murder of Desdemona she is devastated. She even goes as far as to say, “I’ll kill myself for grief” showing how much she cared for Desdemona. Breaking her mold, Emilia even stands up to Iago about Desdemona’s murder saying he “killed the sweetest innocent that e’er lift up eye.” Due to the grief she is feeling, Emilia’s anger at Iago finally comes out.
Are there any more examples people can think of from the book???